Condition - FOS for fat loss

By Holly Taylor BSc(Hons) DipCNM MBANT

As obesity levels continue to rise around the globe, the study of food ingredients for weight management is gaining momentum. Several studies have reported that daily supplements of prebiotics (special type of fibre that feed friendly bacteria) may help in the maintenance of an appropriate body weight.

However, a new study from Canada has found that a daily dose of the prebiotic FOS may also aid weight loss by curbing levels of hormones linked to hunger.

During the study, 48 overweight and obese adults were given a daily dose of 21g of FOS, while a control group was given a dummy supplement. At the end of the 12 weeks, the group taking the FOS had lost an average of 1.03kg of body weight, while the people in the placebo group actually gained an average of 0.45kg.

The researchers reported that the daily dose of FOS was associated with lower levels of the hunger hormone ghrelin, and higher levels of a hormone in the gut, peptide YY (PYY), linked to increased feelings of fullness. What’s more, the group taking the FOS naturally decreased their calorie intake and developed better blood sugar control.

The researchers concluded: “Independent of other lifestyle changes, oligofructose (FOS) supplementation has the potential to promote weight loss and improve glucose regulation in overweight adults.”